Is prostitution immoral? PRO (yes) Dorn Checkley, Director of the Pittsburg Coalition Against Pornography, wrote "Legalized Prostitution?

" on Wholehearted.org (accessed Jan. 22, 2007), which stated: "Prostitution as an institution is evil. It doesn't matter if it is the 'world's oldest profession', it is still wrong. However, prostitutes themselves are not evil and neither are their johns. They are usually broken and needy individuals seemingly trapped by the circumstances of their lives. Ultimately, to accept and legitimize prostitutes and johns is not compassionate, it is lazy. Not to undertake the difficult task of leading, encouraging and calling them to the higher way is a failure to love as Jesus would have loved them." Jan. 22, 2007 - Dorn Checkley Alexa Albert, MD, wrote in her 2001 book Brothel that: However disturbing the idea of commercial sex may be to some of us, it's nave to believe that prostitution can ever be eliminated. The demand will be met with supply one way or another, no matter what is legislated. Turning our backs on the women (and men) who do this work may be far more immoral - even criminal - than prostitution itself. Only when we recognize and validate the work of professional prostitutes can we expect them to practice their trade safely and responsibly. 2001 - Alexa Albert, MD CON (no) Laurie Shrage, PhD, Professor of Philosophy at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, was quoted in the Nov. 1, 2004 article "U.S. Feminists Split Over Berkeley Prostitution Measure" written by Kai Ma in the North Gate News Online, as having said: "For feminists like me, punitive laws against prostitution symbolize one of [the] things I'd most like to change about our society, namely double standards of sexual morality that result in stigmatizing not just prostitutes, but many unconventional women, as sluts or whores." Nov. 1, 2004 - Laurie Shrage, PhD

wrote the July 19, 2005 letter posted on its website, which said: "Who would ever think that the shameful and dark behavior of prostitution would now be advocated to be 'mainstream' acceptable in the popular culture? How is it that it advanced this far? The degeneration of moral absolutes has been eroded by the jackhammer of existentialism and situational ethics. Years ago it was seen not only as shameful but a stigma for a man to solicit a prostitute.... Some say 'well, what they do in the privacy of their own bedroom is no concern of mine. I don't think we should judge. I don't think we should impose our morals on others.' Here's a reality check. Every law on the books is an attempt to legislate morality because morality is a standard of right and wrong. The question is 'which morals will govern?'. What people do in the privacy of their own bedroom does affect us all. AIDS is epidemic. ...The march of the perverse will continue unless people of logic, reason and moral common sense don't take a stand and take action to resist the movement to legalize that which destroys the souls of those who practice it and is a vehicle to infect a nation and those who practice it." July 19, 2005 - Tony Nassif

"Prohibition of gambling and alcohol have both been tried in varying degrees in dozens of countries around the world, always with the result of stimulating illegality and sleaze. The sex industry appears to be no different. All developed economies have conceded that the business is impossible to stamp out. Tolerating prostitution while leaving it technically illegal or semi-legal encourages corruption: policemen are paid to turn a blind eye. It also renders the workers helpless against their employers. Until recently, sex slaves who escaped from brothels in most European countries were usually deported as illegal aliens, which hardly helped the authorities nail their oppressors. The inexorable trend, in both law and public morals, is towards legalisation of what is already tolerated. That would free law-enforcers to concentrate on what is not tolerated, such as the sexual exploitation of children. And it would put the greater part of the sex business where it ultimately belongs - as just another branch of the global entertainment industry." Feb. 14, 1998 - Economist

Theodore Dalrymple, writer and retired physician, in the Feb. 3, 2005 City Journal article "Welfare-to-Works New Thrust," wrote: "A few years ago, prostitutes disappeared from the pages of medical journals; they returned as 'sex workers.' Nor did they work in prostitution any more: they were employees in the 'sex industry.' Presumably, orgasms are now a consumer product just like any other. As for pimps, the correct term is probably: 'brief sexual liaison coordinators.'... The idea of the state coercing its population into prostitution is, of course, repellent. Even the most liberal of liberals would probably agree with that. This means that there is after all a moral difference between prostitution and washing dishes in the local restaurant or stacking supermarket shelves. And that prostitution is both age-old and ineradicable does not make it any less degrading to all concerned. Once again, the attempt to remake our moral universe by a change of terminology stands revealed as shallow moral exhibitionism..." Feb. 3, 2005 - Theodore Dalrymple

Is prostitution a threat to marriage? Catherine La Croix, Executive Director and Founder of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE) chapter in Seattle, was quoted in the Oct 1996 Internet Underground article "Love For Sale" by Tommy Ranks as having said: "Why is it illegal to charge for what can be freely dispensed? Sex work is no more moral or immoral than the chocolate or distilling industries." Oct. 1996 - Catherine La Croix PRO (yes) In U.S. v. Bitty (1908), the United States Supreme Court in a 9-0 decision written by Justice John Marshall Harlan, held that: "There can be no doubt as to what class was aimed at by the clause forbidding the importation of alien women for purposes of 'prostitution.' It refers to women who, for hire or without hire, offer their bodies to indiscriminate intercourse with men. The lives and example of such persons are in hostility to 'the idea of the family as consisting in and springing from the union for life of one man and one woman in the holy estate of matrimony; the sure foundation of all that is stable and noble in our civilization; the best guaranty of that reverent morality which is the source of all beneficent progress in social and political improvement.'" CON (no) John Ince, Attorney and Leader of the Sex Party, in his 2003The Politics of Lust, wrote: "Some people claim that prostitution threatens committed relationships, marriage, and the family. The argument is that the 'johns' who patronize prostitutes will have less incentive to enter stable relationships. But such an argument is unfounded. Committed relationships have intrinsic rewards to both men and women. Most people report that sex within a committed relationship is superior to casual sexual contact. Further, such emotionally bonding sex costs no money. Commitment also offers continuing companionship, emotional security, and an opportunity to pool economic resources and share the responsibility for children. These positive outcomes will always make committed relationships appealing to most people, even

Tony Nassif, Founder and President of the Cedars Cultural and Educational Foundation,

The Economist wrote in its Feb. 14, 1998 editorial "Giving the Customer What He Wants" that:

1908 - U.S. v. Bitty (12 KB)

those who have access to prostitutes. Further, sex workers can provide committed couples a way to gratify needs for sexual variety without risking the emotional attachments arising from sexual affairs." 2003 - John Ince

"[P]roperly licensed premises would mean that the worst aspects of the sex trade - child prostitution, trafficking, and slavery and the exploitation of vulnerable people - could be tackled. Licensing premises would encourage sex workers' access to health and social care." Jan. 28, 2006 - Fiona Godlee, MB BChir

Dorn Checkley, Director of the Pittsburg Coalition Against Pornography, wrote "Legalized Prostitution?" on Wholehearted.org last accessed Jan. 22, 2007, which stated: "Legalized prostitution will proliferate and gain legitimacy, just like pornography has, but legal and social acceptance will never ameliorate the negative consequences to marriage. Libertines can talk a good game, but no one really likes to be cheated on and no one really likes sexual competition. It will always hurt at a deep level. And the consequences of broken marriages have profound ramifications to society. We dont need any more negative pressure on marriage in our culture." Jan. 22, 2007 - Dorn Checkley

Paul Abramson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the University of California Los Angeles, Steven Pinkerton, PhD, Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Mark Huppin, JD, PhD, co-author, in their 2003 Sexual Rights in America, wrote: "[P]rostitution is consistent with the pursuit of happiness of both prostitutes and the men who visit them. Moreover, to the (somewhat questionable) extent that the availability of commercial sex partners channels excess male sexual energy away from the wives of other men (thereby preventing adultery) or unwilling sexual partners (thereby preventing rape and sexual assault), prostitution is beneficial in a broader sense." 2003 - Paul R. Abramson, PhD Steven D. Pinkerton, PhD Mark Huppin, PhD, JD

Jessi Winchester, former legal prostitute and political candidate, wrote in From Bordello to Ballot Box (2000) that: "If prostitution were legalized outright, in addition to current legal brothels in Nevada, zoned areas of communities could be designated for the industry. Privately owned and licensed establishments where security would be mandatory could rent licensed prostitutes a workplace. Taking a lesson from Europe, these districts would not be near homes, schools, or churches. Expanded legal options would offer those currently working in illegal avenues an alternative workplace." 2000 - Jessi Winchester

article "'Bad for the Body, Bad for the Heart:' Prostitution Harms Women Even If Legalized or Decriminalized" that: "The regulation of prostitution by zoning is a physical manifestation of the same social/psychological stigma that decriminalization advocates allegedly want to avoid. Reflecting the social isolation of those in it, prostitution is often removed from the mainstream. Whether in Turkish genelevs (walled-off multiunit brothel complexes) or in Nevada brothels (ringed with barbed wire or electric fencing), women in state-zoned prostitution are physically isolated and socially rejected by the rest of society." Oct. 2004 - Melissa Farley, PhD

Dave Quist, Executive Director of Focus on the Family's Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, was quoted in LifeSiteNews.com on July 13, 2006 as having said: "The concept that 'mom's job' is having sex with strangers sets the wrong tone for family life. It hurts the woman, it hurts the children; that is an exploitative situation,. If prostitution is legal it affords men the 'excuse' to go find sex outside of marriage, when things in the marriage are difficult. That does nothing to enhance the relationship between a man and a woman. [Prostitution] runs opposite to what relationships are supposed to be. Intimacy and love are not involved; it's just a purely physical act. It lowers both people to the lowest common denominator." July 13, 2006 - Dave Quist

Veronica Monet, prostitute and author, in a Mar. 26, 2006 interview on the Suicide Girls website, said: "Most of the brothels do not care about the women who work for them. They care about the clients who are paying them. I don't like legalized brothels. I have nothing against the women that are working in this system but the women who work in legal strip clubs and legal brothels do not benefit from any kind of labor rights." Mar. 26, 2006 - Veronica Monet

Tracy Quan, author and former prostitute, in a Sep. 7, 2001 interview on Court TV said: "Prostitution has been around for eons, and so have families and so has marriage. Prostitution helps to maintain marital stability in my opinion." Sep. 7, 2007 - Tracy Quan

George Flint, Senior Lobbyist for the Nevada Brothel Owners Association, wrote on its website (accessed Feb. 22, 2007) that: "Im a big fan and supporter of the brothels based largely on the fact that legal and regulated works so much better than the obvious alternative. Making prostitution illegal does not make it go away. Our only choice as relating to prostitution is legal and successfully controlled or sadly, what happens without the benefit of what we do have in ten counties of rural Nevada: uncontrolled sex for sale activity with all the crime, drugs, and exploitation that is rampant in the illegal environment." 2007 - George Flint

Should prostitution be legal in licensed places like brothels? PRO (yes) Fiona Godlee, MB, Editor of the BMJ (British Medical Journal), wrote the Jan. 28, 2006 BMJ article "Vice Versa" that stated: CON (no) Melissa Farley, PhD, Founding Director of the Prostitution Research and Education, wrote in the Oct. 2004 Violence Against Women journal

Wade Lieseke, former Sheriff of Nye County, Nevada, was quoted in the July 20, 1998 Washington Times article "'Go To Vegas,' Chief Tells Johns Seeking Hookers" as having said: "In my county, I don't have a prostitution

Anastasia Volkonsky, JD, Founder and former Project Director of Prevention, Referral, Outreach, Mentoring, and Intervention to End Sexual Exploitation (PROMISE), in the Feb. 27, 1995 Insight on the News article "Legalization the 'Profession' Would Sanction the Abuse," wrote: "Behind the facade of a regulated industry, brothel prostitutes in Nevada are captive in conditions analogous to slavery. Women often are procured for the brothels from other areas by pimps who dump them at the house in order to collect the referral fee. Women report working in shifts commonly as long as 12 hours, even when ill, menstruating or pregnant, with no right to refuse a customer who has requested them or to refuse the sexual act for which he has paid. The dozen or so prostitutes I interviewed said they are expected to pay the brothel room and board and a percentage of their earnings -sometimes up to 50 percent. They also must

problem because it's legalized. Why would anyone go to a street hooker if they can go to a brothel where it's regulated? They would have to be crazy." July 20, 1998 - Wade Lieseke

pay for mandatory extras such as medical exams, assigned clothing and fines incurred for breaking house rules. And, contrary to the common claim that the brothel will protect women from the dangerous, crazy clients on the streets, rapes and assaults by customers are covered up by the management." Feb. 27, 1995 - Anastasia Volkonsky, JD 3.

explicitly dedicated to providing sex. Better security than street. Often licensed by authorities Escort: Client contacts sex worker by phone or via hotel staff. Most covert form of sex work. Relatively expensive because of low client turnover. Service provided at clients home or hotel room

brothels are 'tolerated.' (Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, India, Europe, Latin America)

What are the different types of prostitution? General Reference (not clearly pro or con) Hilary L. Surratt, PhD, Associate Scientist for the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware, et. al., in the July 2005 Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality study titled "The Connections of Mental Health Problems, Violent Life Experiences, and the Social Milieu of the 'Stroll' with the HIV Risk Behaviors of Female Street Sex Workers," wrote: "...[I]n contrast to popular thinking, female sex workers are an extremely heterogeneous population. They are situated in a myriad of social and environmental contexts... Past and current studies suggest that there are many different types of female sex workers, including 'call girls' and escorts working in the upper echelons of the sex industry, 'in-house' sex workers working in parlors or brothels, 'street-walkers' who sell sex for money through sidewalk solicitations, part-timers who supplement their incomes with sex-for-pay, and druginvolved street-based sex workers, the majority of whom shift between sex-for-money and sex-for-drug exchanges as circumstances require." July 2005 - Hilary L. Surratt, PhD

Ubiquitous. In the United States escorts and private workers contacted by phone and working from a 'call book' are known as 'call girls' or 'call men'

4.

Private: Client contacts sex worker by phone. Similar to escorts except services provided in sex workers United Kingdom, Europe, United States, and premises. A variant in Australia. Sometimes doorway (see below) and London and other big street sex workers bring clients home cities is 'flat' prostitutionhigh cost services in rented, serviced, inner city units Window or doorway: Brothels with sex workers on public display. Windows preferred in cold climates, doorways in warmer places Club, pub, bar, karaoke bar, dance hall: Clients solicited in alcohol vending venues and serviced on site or elsewhere Other all-male venues: Clients solicited in all-male venues such as barbershops, bathhouses, saunas, and mining camps. Serviced on site or elsewhere Door knock or hotel: Unattached males are approached in their

5. Christine Harcourt, PhD, Research Fellow for the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology & Clinical Research at the University of New South Wales, and Basil Donovan, MD, Professor of Sexual Health at National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research of the University of New South Wales, in their June 2005 Sexually Transmitted Infections article "The Many Faces of Sex Work," wrote: "At least 25 types of sex work were identified according to worksite, principal mode of soliciting clients, or sexual practices. These types of work are often grouped under the headings of 'direct' and 'indirect' prostitution, with the latter group less likely to be perceived or to perceive themselves as sex workers..." Direct Forms of Prostitution Number Type of Prostitution Street: Clients solicited on the street, park or other public places. Serviced in side streets, vehicles, or short stay premises Brothel: Premises Geographic Distribution 7. Widespread, particularly if alternative work sites are unavailable (United States, Europe, United Kingdom, Australasia) and/or there is socioeconomic breakdown (eastern Europe, parts of Africa, south and South East Asia, and Latin America) 8. 2. Preferred where sex work is decriminalised or

Window prostitution almost unique to Amsterdam and Hamburg. Doorway prostitution found in less affluent areas of European cities and in African and other developing countries

6.

Ubiquitous depending on types of male club available

Ubiquitous

1.

Hotels worldwide and wherever large numbers of unaccompanied males reside

hotel rooms or boarding houses Transport (ship, truck, train): Sex workers may board vehicles to service the crew or passengers or pick up clients at stations and terminals CB radio: Sex workers drive along highways using CB radio to exchange (jargon) messages with potential truck driver clients. Serviced at truck stops or parking areas Other methods of solicitation: Through various media including noticeboard and newspaper advertisements, 'sex worker catalogues' with mobile phone numbers, the internet via virtual brothels, etc. Services are delivered mostly in brothels and other indoor venues

services may be provided. In South East Asia similar arrangements may apply in barbershops Ubiquitous 15. Travelling entertainers: Actors, dancers and others involved in entertainment may also provide sexual services Beer girls: Young women hired by major companies to promote and sell products in bars and clubs. Sexual services sold to supplement income Street vendors and traders: Ostensibly marketing rural produce or other goods but supplementing income with sexual services

9.

South East Asia

10.

United States 16.

Cambodia, Uganda, other developing countries

17. Ubiquitous, but internet and mobile phone services are mostly confined to large cities in developed countriesparticularly the United Kingdom and Sweden where legislation limits other forms of advertising

Widespread in developing countries

11.

18.

Indirect Forms of Prostitution Bondage and discipline: sexual fantasy through role play. May involve the inflicting of pain, but genital contact is not routine Lap dancing: A recent development involving erotic dancing at close quarters without sexual contact Massage parlour: Premises ostensibly dedicated to providing massage, but a range of sexual

Opportunistic: A person approached in a social venue may occasionally choose Ubiquitous to charge for sexual favours if the client appears wealthy enough Femme libre: Women, usually single or divorced, who exchange sexual services for gifts. The gifts are then converted to cash Individual arrangements: The single mother who may have sex with her landlord in place of rent. Older sex workers who only deal with a small number of regular clients, by appointment. 'Kept'

12.

Apparently unique to wealthier countries 19.

Central Africa

13.

Predominantly wealthier countriesoften takes place in hotels and clubs

20. Europe, South East Asia, and Australia

Ubiquitous

14.

women or men. Concubines. The number of possible arrangements is vast Swingers clubs: Some swingers or couples sex clubs employ (undisclosed) sex workers if there is a shortage of female guests Geisha: Women engaged primarily to provide social company, but sex may ensue 'Sex for drugs': Women providing fellatio for crack cocaine in crack houses. Young homosexual men in Western countries may provide opportunistic sexual services paid with drugs Beachboys, bumsters, and gigolos: Men and boys engaged by women ostensibly for social purposes but sex is often involved. Some beachboys are under aged and many also service male clients Survival sex: A matter of degree, where starvation or other serious deprivation is imminent, particularly for dependants. Food or security may be the currency, rather than money

21.

Predominantly wealthier countries

22.

Japanese cities

23.

Crack houses are unique to the United States

24.

Resorts, particularly in developing countries

25.

Refugee camps anywhere